Publication Details

Description: As part of the study reported here, analysis of data from the LTPP GPS-5 test sections was conducted to identify factors that influence long-term crack spacing in continuously reinforced concrete (CRC) pavements and to determine the effect of crack spacing on pavement performance. Data from the 85 test sections from the GPS-5 experiment were analyzed.

Due to the limitations of the available data and the lack of certain key data, the study was not able to produce definitive findings on factors that affect long-term crack spacing and CRC pavement performance. Lack of early-age cracking due to ambient weather conditions at the time of construction will continue to limit the value of GPS-5 to produce meaningful data on factors affecting early-age cracking. Continued monitoring of GPS-5 sites and subsequent data analysis should yield information on how CRC pavement cracking and performance changes with time, loading, and other factors. It is expected that as additional data from the GPS-5 experiment become available, it will be possible to perform more in-depth analysis of the test data to derive definitive results. Results to date, as presented in this report, do indicate that CRC pavements have the potential to provide long-term, low-maintenance service life as evidenced by the many well-performing sections in the LTPP GPS-5 experiment.